Harmon, Thomas D.
Football
b. Sept. 28, 1919, Gary, IN
One of the last of the triple-threat single-wing tailbacks, Harmon was named to the all-1930s teams in a 1969 poll marking college football's centennial year. Amos Alonzo Stagg said he was better than Red Grange because he was more versatile. "Harmon was superior to Grange in everything but running," Stagg said. "I'll take Harmon on my team and you can have all the rest."
An All-American at Michigan in 1939 and 1940, Harmon won the Heisman Trophy in 1940 and was also named Associated Press Athlete of the Year. His most spectacular game was a 41-0 victory over the University of California in 1940, when he scored on runs of 8, 72, 86, and 94 yards. He also threw a touchdown pass and kicked 4 extra points.
During his three years as a starter, Harmon gained 2,338 yards on 398 carries, an average of 5.9 yards. He scored 237 points and also threw 16 touchdown passes.
Harmon played for the New York Americans in the American Football League in 1941 and then served in the Air Force during World War II. Although he suffered serious burns on both legs when his plane was shot down over China, he played two more seasons of professional football with the Los Angeles Rams in 1946 and 1947, but was obviously not the player he had been before the war.
He went on to a successful career as a radio and television sportscaster.